Electromagnetic balance accelerometer



April 8, 1952 R. L. cosGRlFF ETAL 2,591,921

ELECTROMAGNETIC BALANCE ACCELEROMETER INVENTORS.

ROBERT L. cosGRu-F By EDWARD L. wALLs, JR.

ATTORNEY.

April 8, 1952 R. L. cosGRlFF ETAL ELECTROMGNETIC BALANCE ACCELEROMETER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1949 INVENTORS. ROBERT L. COSGRIFF By EDWARD L. WALLS, JR.

WG 3 @Juf/2m ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 8, 1952 ELE CTROMAGNETIC BALANCE ACCELEROMETER Robert L. cosgriff and Edward L. Walls, Jr., Columbus, Ohio, assignors to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1949, Serial No. 95,898

9 Claims. (Cl. 264-1) The present invention relates to an accelerometer in which electromagnetic means balance acceleration applied to a sensing element, the c urrent which energizes the electromagnetic means thus becoming a measure of the acceleration and itself being readily measured by a suitable galvanometer or the like.` The accelerometer includes a capacitance pickof which is adapted to control the current supply for the electromagnetic means in accordance with displacements of the sensing element.

The magnetic frame of the device is formed to provide a pair of axially spaced annular gaps traversed radially by the magnetic lines of force; and the acceleration sensing element is of tubular form, with its ends arranged in the annular gaps and containing coils which are electrically energized to produce the acceleration balancing force; The tubular. element is suspended for axial motion upon a film of gas. or gas bearing, that is maintained between `telescoping dielectric bodies which are provided on the frame and on the tubular element. Embedded in these dielectric bodies on Opposite sides of the'gas nlm are the condenser plates of the capacitance pickoff.

The capacitance pick-off is sensitive to very small displacements of the movable element of the accelerometer, and the electromagnetic means respond rapidly to signalsfrom the pickoff, so that the amount of displacement of the movable element is very small. ing imposes virtually no frictional resistance when the motion between the supporting and supported elements is very small, and theaccelerometer is therefore highly sensitive and enables accurate measurements even of accelerations of very small magnitude. since the balancing force of the electromagnetic means can be made large in relation to the mass of the sensing element, the accelerometer can be used to measure acceleration forces over a wide range of magnitudes.

The acceleration sensitive element arranged concentrically within the magnetic frame is the onlyemoving part of the device; and the only movable bearing surfaces are the cylindrical surfaces of the single air bearing which supports this moving part. The invention thus provides an arrangement that is compact, is simple to construct and is susceptable of low cost manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and Iadvantages will become apparent from the following description of the accelerometer shown in the 21" companying drawings, wherein:

The gas bear- Furthermore, 1

Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view;

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken respectively along lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the part of the frame which contains the gas bearing;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Y

Figs. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views taken along lines 6-6 and 1 1 respectively o Fig. 5; v 'f Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on 'a magnied scale of an end fragment of theac celeration sensing element; and, v

Fig. 9 .is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit. arrangement for the accelerometer.,

The outer section of the magnetic frame: of the accelerometer is made of soft iron and com-1 prises a tubular shell II to whose endsw ring shaped pole pieces I2 and I3 are secured by a press t or other uid .tight connection. The core' of the frame is cylindrical and consists of a permanent magnet I4 having soft iron pole pieces I5 and I6 at its opposite ends. Pole piece YI5 is mounted upon an end casing element I1 which in turn is secured, by fasteners I8, to the' end ring I2. The `casing of the accelerometer further includes an opposite end ring I9 secured by fasteners 2I'I to ring I3 and an outer tubular jacket 2|. The housing still further includes a tubular member 22 secured to end ring I9 by fastener 23, .and an end closure plate 24 secured to member 22 by fasteners 25. The casing parts I1, IS, 2I, 22 and 24 preferably are formedofaluminum or other suitable non-magneticmafterial. ,i

Sealing rings 26 are conned in peripheral grooves in the frame pole rings I2 and I3 to seal an annular chamber 21 that is provided between members II and 2l. Air or other gas under 'pressure from a suitable source may be introduced into chamber 21 through a nipple 28 that is connected to the outer jacket 2I by means of a plate 29 and fasteners 30. A dielectric bearing sleeve 3| is mounted within the iron shell II, and through these parts extend small radial openings 63, Fig. 5, to direct gas from the chamber into the gas bearing within the sleeve 3l. The inner surface of this sleeve preferably is a flush continuation of the cylindrical inner faces of pole rings I2 and I3.

32 are electrically connected by a bar 35, the alternate plates 33 by another bar 3S, and the guard rings 34 by still another bar 31. Insulated wires 38 and 33 respectively connected to bars 35 and 36 extend from the housing of the accelerometer through openings in plate 29, as shown in Fig. 2, while a wire 44 connected to bar 31 is grounded to jacket 2l.

The tubular acceleration sensitive element, in-

dicated generally by numeral 4I, is arranged for axial movement in the annular space surrounding the core I4, I5, I6 and within the cylindrical inner surface of dielectric sleeve 3i andipole rings I2, I3. The element 4I consists of an aluminum tube 42 upon whose end portions are wound coils 43 of insulated wire, the coils beingso spaced that one is situated in the gap between pole pieces I2 and l and the other in the gap between pole pieces I3 and I5. Portions of the tube 42 that are axially situated between adjacent pairs of plates 32 and 33 are thickened to provide annular ridges 44 which constitute intermediate condenser plates. A dielectric jacket 45 is cast over the outside surface of the tube, embedding the coils 43 to hold them in assembly and providing the sensitive element with a smooth outer surface that is flush with the outer cylindrical peripheries of ridges 44. A small clearance is provided between this outer surface of element 4I and the adjacent cylindrical surface of sleeve 3| and pole rings I2 and I3. This clearance, which is on the order of fifteen ten-thousandths of an inch when the diameter of the sensitive element is on the order of seven-eighths of an inch, contains a nlm of gas or gas bearing, upon which the sensitive element floats. The spent gas exhausts from the casing of the accelerometer through openings 4G in the casing end members I1 and 24.

Small insulated wires 41 and 48 connected to the ends of coils 43 are embedded in the dielectric jacket 45 and extend therefrom to binding posts 49 and 50, respectively. The portions of wires 41 and 48 between the two coils extend in a, narrow axially extending groove lformed on the inner surface of tube 42. Another wire, 5I, is connected tothe metal tube 42 and extends to a binding post 52. From the three posts lead wires, respectively designated 53, 54 and 55, extend to the electric current supply and control system.

The details of the apparatus making up this system are not a part of the present invention, and since such apparatus is well known in the art, the system is shown only in diagrammatic form in Fig. 9. It comprises a radio frequency oscillator 56, discriminators 51 and 58, detectors 59 and 6D, a direct current summing amplier 6I and a galvanometer 62. The radio frequency output of the oscillator is fed to both of the discriminators, each of which functions to amplitude modulate its radio frequency output in accordance with the capacitance of its control condenser, this being the control condenser comprise ing elements 32 and 44 for the discriminator 51 and the control condenser comprising elements 33 and 44 for the dscriminator 58. tude modulated outputs of the discriminators are fed respectively to detectors 59 and G4, each of which applies to amplifier 6I a direct current potential corresponding to the modulation im-v The amplii:

posed by the related discriminator. The output In operation, with the nipple 28 connected to a source of gas pressure so that element 4I is suspended on a gas film, the output of amplifier 6I will be zero so that no current will flow through coils 43 so long as the ridge-like plates 44 remain in neutral position, symmetrically disposed relative to plates 32 and33. When the accelerometer is subjected to an axial acceleration, say to the right in Fig. l, the plates 32 shift into closer coupling with plates 44 because of the inertia of element 4I, and the capacitance of the condenser comprising plates 32 and 44 thus increases and that of the condenser comprising plates 33 and 44 decreases. This will result in the output voltages of discriminator 51 and detector 59 increaring, while the output voltages of discriminator 58 and detector 60 decrease. rThis will in turn result in amplifier 6I applying a potential across coils 43, so energizing the latter that a mechanical force is applied to element 4I in a direction tending to restore it to its neutral position relative to the frame. Since this potential increases with increased difference between the two capacitances resulting from continued axial displacement of the element 4I, and decreases during restoring movement of the latter, there quickly results a condition of balance wherein the electromagnetically applied balance force equals the acceleration applied to element 4I. Since the balance force is proportional to the potential across the coils 43, the galvanomcter 62, which measures this potential, also measures the acceleration force. and, if desired, the galvanometer scale may he calibrated to read directly in units of gravity or acceleration. Or, if employed in a control system, the galvanometer may be in the form of a relay or the like.

It will b e understood that the foregoing de;1 scription of the accelerometer and its mode o1 operation is set forth by way of illustration and explanation of the invention and not by way of limitation. The principles of the invention `may be employed in various other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, or from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An accelerometer for use with an electric current supply means whose output potential may be varied by changing the capacitance of a condenser that is electrically connected therewith, said accelerometer comprising a xed frame providing a magnetic circuit having two axially spaced annular gaps traversed radially by magnetic lines of force, a tubular acceleration responsive member coaxial with said gaps and carrying coils disposed respectively within said gaps, electrical conductors extending from said coils and adapted for connection with said current supply means for energizing said coils to provide electromagnetically a force to counterbalance accelerations applied axially to said member, a condenser comprising a plurality of plates of which at least one is carried by said member and at least another is carried by said frame, said plates being disposed within the frame between said two gaps and so arranged relative to one another that the capacitance of the condenser is Varied upon axial motion of said member, electrical conductors extending from said condenser and adapted for connection to said current supply means for Varying the potential thereof applied to said coils, said frame and said member having telescoping surfaces with clearance therebetween for dening a gas bearing space, and fluid'passage means lextending through the frame into said space for directing gas under pressure'into the latter to provide a gas bearing suspending the member for axial motion.

2.,An accelerometer for use with an electric current supply means whose output potential may lbe varied by changing the relative capacitance of condensers that are electrically connected therewith, said accelerometer comprising a fixed nframe providing a magnetic circuit having two axially spaced annular gaps traversed radially by balance accelerations applied `axially to said member, condenser means comprising a plurality of plates of which at least two plates are carried 6 plates coaxial with said gaps and embedded in said first dielectric body, an acceleration sensitive element comprising a non-magnetic metallic tube coaxial with said gaps and having at least one in spaced relation to each other by said frame and at least one plate is carried by said member, said plates being disposed between said two gaps and so arranged relative to one another that the relative capacitance of said two plates is varied upon axial motion of said member, electrical conductors extending from said plates and adapted for connection to said current supply means for varying the potential thereof applied to said coils, said frame and said member having telescoping surfaces with clearance therebetween for defining a gas bearing space, and means for directing gas under pressure through said frame surface into said space to provide in the latter a gas bearing suspending the member for axial motion.

3. In an electromagnetic balance accelerometer having a capacitance pickoff, a xed frame providing a magnetic circuit having axially spaced annular gaps traversed radially by magnetic lines of force, a first dielectric body mounted within the frame between said gaps and having a cylindrical surface coaxial with said gaps, a plurality of axially spaced ring shaped condenser plates coaxial with said gaps and embedded in said first L dielectric body, an acceleration sensitive element comprising a non-magnetic metallic tube coaxial with said gaps and having at least one annular ridge formed thereon for coaction as a condenser plate with the aforementioned condenser plates, a pair of coils carried by said tube with one thereof disposed within each of said gaps, a second dielectric body formed upon one surface of the tube, said second dielectric body embedding said coils and having a cylindrical surface in telescoping relation to the cylindrical surface of said first dielectric body, there being clearance provided between said telescoping surfaces, means providing a gas pressure chamber extending around said frame, and a plurality of openings through said frame, and through said first di electric body between adjacent ones of said plates embedded therein, for directing gas under pressure into said clearance space for suspending the acceleration sensitive element for axial motion within the frame.

4. In an electromagnetic balance accelerometer having a capacitance pickoff, a fixed frame providing a magnetic circuit having axially spaced annular gaps traversed radially by magnetic lines of force,'a rst dielectric body mounted within the frame between said gaps and having a cylindrical surface substantially flush with one of the peripheral surfaces of said gaps, a plurality of axially spaced ring shaped condenser l annular ridge formed thereon for coaction as a condenser plate with the aforementioned condenser plates, a pair of coils carried .by said tube with one thereof disposed within each of said gaps, a second dielectric body formed upon one surface of the tube, said second dielectricbody embedding said coils and having a cylindrical surface in telescoping relation to the cylindrical `surface of said first dielectric body, there being clearance provided between said telescoping surfaces, and a plurality of openings through said first dielectric body between adjacent;v ones of said plates embedded therein for directing gas under pressure into said clearance space forfsuspending the acceleration sensitive element for axial motion within the frame.

5. In an electromagnetic balance accelerometer having a capacitance pickoff, a fixed frame providing a magnetic circuit having an annular gap traversed radially by magnetic lines of force,

a first dielectric body mounted within the frame and having a cylindrical surface coaxial with said gap, at least one ring shaped condenser plate coaxial with said gap and embedded in said first dielectric body, an acceleration sensitive element comprising a non-magnetic metallic tube coaxial vwith said gap and having at least one annular ridge formed thereon for coaction as a condenser plate with the aforementioned condenser plate, a coil carried by said tube and disposed within said gap, a second dielectric body formed upon one surface of the tube, said second dielectric body embedding said coil and having a cylindrical surface in telescoping relation to the cylindrical surface of said first dielectric body, there being clearance provided between said telescoping surfaces, and a plurality of openings through said first dielectric body adjacent said plate embedded therein for directing gas under pressure into said clearance space for suspending the acceleration sensitive element for axial motion within the Abeing flush with said cylindrical surface, an acceleration sensitive element comprising a nonmagnetic tube coaxial with said gaps and having a ring shaped plate for coaction as a condenser plate with the aforementioned condenser plate, a coil carried by said tube and disposed in said gap, the body of said tube adjacent the plate thereof being of dielectric material having a cylindrical surface flush lwith that of the plate and arranged in telescoping relation to the cylindrical surface of said dielectric body for directing gas under pressure into said clearance space to upon one surface of the tube and having a cylindrical surface in telescoping relation to the cylindrical surface of said first dielectric body, there being clearance provided between said telescoping surfaces, and said iirst dielectric body having a passage extending into said clearance for directing gas under pressure into said clearance for suspending the acceleration sensitive element for axial motion.

8. In an accelerometer having a capacitance pickoi, a rst dielectric body having a cylindrical surface, a ring shaped condenserplate supported by said first dielectric body and having a surface flush with said cylindrical surface, an acceleration sensitive element comprising a non-magnetic metallic tube having an annular ridge formed thereon for coaction as a condenser plate with the aforementioned condenser plate, a second div electric body formed upon one surface of the tube, said second dielectric body having a cylin drical surface fiusli with the surface of said annular ridge and being in telescoping relation to the cylindrical surface of said rst dielectric body, there being clearance provided between said telescoping surfaces, and said first dielectric body having a passage extending therethrough for directing gas under pressure into said clearance space to provide an air lm suspending the acceleration sensitive element and separating said plate from said annular ridge.

9. An acceleration responsive element for an electromagnetic accelerometer having a capacitance pickoif, said element comprising a nonmagnetic metallic tube having an annular ridge formed therein, a coil around said tube to one side of the ridge, and a dielectric body formed upon the surface of the tube on each side of said ridge, said dielectric body embedding said coil, and the surface of said dielectric body being cylindrical and flush with the surface of said ridge.

ROBERT L. COSGRIFF. EDWARD L. WALLS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,826,024 Roller Oct. 6, 1931 2,136,219 Scherbatskoy Nov. 8, 1938 2,193,910 Wilson Mar. 19, 1940 2,371,040 Fisher Mar. 6, 1945 2,493,997 McLean et al. Feb. 28, 1950 

